A Peaceful Oasis

                                                       "A Peaceful Oasis". 16x20 Oil-2022

Summer on Cape Cod can be hectic. There are a lot of tourists and a hum of activity most places. I often go out to catch a good sunset or sunrise and there are many others doing the same thing, cameras in hand and children and dogs in tow. 

There is a little park along Bass River that we walk to where peaceful contemplation is a break from the frenzied tourist scene. In this painting, I wanted to convey a sense of calm and peacefulness that I experience there.  Benches are located at the top of the steps from this little beach. Here one can sit, relax and watch the boats coming in and out from a day on the ocean. Once in a while children come and dig in the sand looking for treasures in the sand. A 1700's Windmill is adjacent to  the benches. If you are so inclined, you can make an appointment to tour the Windmill. This scene is from late August. Orange seed pods have replaced the once aromatic pink beach roses. The horizontal bands in the overcast sky create a sense of calm. The little boats are lined up as though resting and awaiting another day and another outing.

The dinghies are resting. I used subdued colors to enhance the restful feeling. A single boat in the middle ground contrasts with the usual summer congestion. The rocks, boats, waterline and seaweed are used to move the viewer's eye in to the scene.

The amazing KRUMMHOLZ

Rocky Mountain High 9x12 oil

The Amazing Krummholz 9x12 oil




When my brother first moved to Colorado, he took me hiking everywhere we could squeeze in in a day.

On one of our hikes up a 14,000 footer, where the air was thin,  the vegetation was amazing. He then introduced me to the krummholz and the story of how the tiny little trees persisted for years under incredible conditions. The wind and terrain and all of the things that worked against sustainable and favorable growing conditions created these marvelous twisted tiny trees that outlasted all the "normal" trees that lived at lower altitudes on the mountains. After that I became intrigued by the character of the trees that grew in the Rockies and in challenging conditions. These two paintings are of trees at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado. Not quite hovering close to the ground like the krummholz I had seen before, they displayed the twists and turns and color that set them apart from other trees. Short in stature and with limbs dying and broken, they displayed a tenacious spirit that kept them strong against all odds.

I loved the color harmonies of the landscape as well and painted both with the same limited palette. I was honored when "The Amazing Krummholz" won Best in Show at the spring 2018 show at the Artists Gallery at  Patriot Place in Foxborough, MA.

NAPA Valley

The Blue Tractor/ oil painting

Napa vineyard/oil

We celebrated my daughter's birthday vacationing in Napa. After the fires of 2017, I couldn't stop thinking about the beauty of the valley and it's  people being devastated by the inferno. I used photo references and memories from our trip to paint what I hoped remained. The light and color of the vineyards was stunning that October visit. The paintings were a way to come to grips with what had happened.

Beautiful Vermont!

Another beautiful Vermont scene 18x24

Our friends live in Morrisville, Vermont. When we visit I am constantly finding scenes that make my heart skip a beat. This one is right down the street from their house. Each season it takes on a completely different feeling as the colors and moods change. There are several angles that offer great composition possibilities. I chose this one because I liked the vibrant foreground contrasting with the softness of the distant mountains. I  also was drawn to the light on the barn creating a a rhythmic connection between the two.
I began by blocking in the large masses with multiple thin layers in the dark areas. As more layers were applied to add definition to the scene, I was conscious of subtle color variations to define areas while keeping details at a minimum. I intentionally kept edges of the mountains soft, and foreground flowers as clusters of color and shadow to bring the viewer back to pause at the barn, but then to keep the viewer's eye continuing to move throughout the painting. The foreground tree also helps the viewer to focus on the barn.
Painting in a high key keeps the painting warm and cheerful, reminiscent of the day.